Rupert Murdoch's troubles just crossed the Atlantic. Yesterday the U.S. Justice department and the FBI announced they plan to subpoena Murdoch's News Corp group over the alleged phone hacking of 9/11 victims and the bribing of foreign officials.

The move comes after accusations that News Corp tabloid The News of The World bribed British police and also hacked into the voice mail of September 11 victims in order to gain information for news stories.

If the subpoena uncovers evidence, it would spell costly trouble for Murdoch's media empire - which is currently defending multiple interests in Britain.

A News Corp. spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal yesterday: 'We have not seen any evidence to suggest there was any hacking of 9/11 victim's phones, nor has anybody corroborated what are clearly very serious allegations.

'The story arose when an unidentified person speculated to the Daily Mirror about whether it happened.

'That paper printed the anonymous speculation, which has since mushroomed in the broader media with no substantiation,' the spokesperson added.

On Friday, The Daily Mail reported that the SEC might probe News Corp for failing to alert shareholders to litigation related to the hacking scandal.

In order to subpoena News Corp, the Justice Department would use the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - which bans U.S. companies from paying bribes to overseas officials.